Important Author's Note!!!!

First of all I want to thank all of you for putting up with me for 19 chapters, and for sticking with me and reviewing. I certainly hope you'll let me have one final review for this story, just to let me know you're still there and will be reading the sequel: "Within The Shadows Part 2 - Valley Of Eternal Dusk" which is now posted, you can search for it through the serach thing, or can click on my name and get it there (that way would be quicker I imagine). I hope you'll all read that one, since it's the carry on, anything you might think is unresolved will be resolved in that one, so before you judge me on this final chapter, please please please *puppy eyes* read that one and leave me a comment so I know you're reading ^_^ .

And also EXTREME thanks to all the readers for sticking with me for so long. hope you all enjoy the last chapter and the sequel!

Enjoy!

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Beginning of Eternity

Nineteen

Inuyasha walked through the glistening forest, the sun shining warmly upon him. His battle wounds had healed all save a particularly nasty slice across his stomach, though even that was on the mend. He had been sitting with Kagome, waiting for her to wake up ever since they had made it to Kaede's village. But he had got restless waiting, and needed a walk; though secretly he knew some fresh air was not all he was looking for. His dog-ears pricked up as he sensed what he was looking for. He walked through the trees, and upon exiting the seclusion of the forest, entering a wide glade, the grass and leaves on the trees golden with the autumn that was fast approaching. And there, by the edge of the glade, leaning against a tree, was Kikyo.

She looked up as he approached, and greeted him with a slight smile, before he stopped a few feet from her. As she lifted her head to smile at him, her raven hair fell back off her face, and only then did he notice how rough she looked. Bruises and cuts ran up her arms, and he saw a particularly nasty gash across her cheek, and felt a surge of guilt rise up in him. He drew to her feet slowly, and stood up, still relying on the tree for support, and he smiled back.

'You didn't find what you were looking for?' she asked quietly, her usual confident, cold tone nowhere in her exhausted voice.

'I was looking for you,' he replied, stepping towards her.

'But you were expecting my corpse; you thought you left me for dead, didn't you?'

Inuyasha looked at her with glassy eyes, and walked a little closer, stopping inches before her.

'I never…I didn't mean to-' he was stopped by Kikyo holding a finger over his mouth.

'I know what you did; you chose Kagome, didn't you?' Inuyasha looked down at his feet, unable to reply. 'You don't think I can sense my own reincarnation's agony, and you can?' Inuyasha pulled away from her then, still not meeting her eye.

'Don't do that,' he muttered.

'What?'

'Don't make her out to be a thing…she is a person, not some ghost of your soul.'

'Sorry,' she replied quietly, sounding rather hurt; she walked slowly past him, and went to walk away, but stopped a short way from Inuyasha, gazing at the clear blue sky overhead. 'Why did you come to find me?' she asked. Inuyasha turned round to face her, gazing at her in confusion.

'I was worried about you.'

'After you left me to die? After you ran to Kagome's side? After those - things could have already killed me?' Her voice was slightly hysterical, and she shook slightly as she turned to face him.

'Kagome needed me, and-'

'And I didn't?'

'You always used to tell me you never needed my help.'

'Things change.'

'Yes,' he muttered, 'they do.' He turned, walking away from her.

Kikyo watched him walk, but dashed to his side, turning him to face her, before he had got very far.

'Inuyasha wait, please, I'm sorry I didn't mean to…I'm just so-' she collapsed forwards into Inuyasha's arms, and her dropped to his knees, still holding her.

'You're badly wounded,' he said, stroking her hair out of her face.

'So are you,' she replied, prodding him in the stomach, making him wince slightly, before pulling him into a hug.

'I was worried about you…' he muttered.

'But,' she replied, pulling away slightly, so she could face him. 'You looked into my eyes, and you still chose Kagome.' Inuyasha did not say anything; he just gazed into her dark eyes in silence. 'I understand now,' she said, standing up with him drawing up with her, still hugging her slightly.

Inuyasha gazed at her, knowing exactly what it was that she understood. He ran his fingers down her arms, slowly drawing away from her embrace, and stood before her, not tearing his eyes away from her.

'Inuyasha?' Inuyasha spun round as he heard the quiet, dulcet sound of his name in a voice he new so well. He caught with his golden orbs, those hazel eyes, filled with disappointment, and slowly building with tears. The black silk hung loosely over her shoulders as she stood at the edge of the glaze, watching him.

'Kagome…I…' he stopped, unable to say anything. She looked at him for a moment, tears falling down her porcelain face, before she turned, bolting from his sight. He wanted to go after her, needing to explain to her, but he knew better than to charge after her, he knew that would only make her worse.

He looked back at Kikyo for a moment, meeting her eyes. With their eyes they spoke of what words couldn't make each other understand, and Inuyasha turned from her, walking away and back into the cover of the trees. She watched him until he had gone from her sight, then she too left the glaze, walking in the opposite direction to Inuyasha and Kagome.

***

It had been three days since Kagome had been to the feudal era. She had seen Inuyasha with Kikyo, and just returned to the well as an emotional wreck. She had stayed in her own time since then; she had been to school, and met with all her friends after who knew how long, whom all though the constant absences from school were down to illnesses (thanks to her grandfather). She had enjoyed spending time with her family also, though when Sota had asked her why Inuyasha hadn't brought her home, her heart began to ache again, and she fell silent. She had left the scared jewel shards with Shippo to give to Inuyasha, so her only way back was for Inuyasha to come and get her, which he hadn't done; though deep down, there was a small part of her, that didn't want him to either.

She had spent the evening with her friends at the movies, though she couldn't for the life of her remember what the movie was; her thoughts the whole evening, or rather the whole three days were plagued and overwhelmed with Inuyasha. Eri and the others had planned to stay out a little longer, but seeing her in her distracted state, they had insisted Kagome was unwell, and wanted to take her home. Not wanting to spoil her friends' fun, Kagome assured them she was just tired, and walked herself home. As she passed the well house, she stopped, pausing to watch the doors in the twilight hours, partly wondering if they were going to open any moment, and reveal a certain hanyou behind them; of course, they did not.

She sighed deeply, and turned back to her house, walking slowly towards the door. She stopped suddenly, and looking down at herself she saw and arm round her stomach stopping her going further; she smiled and turned in Inuyasha's arms, meeting a warm smile for her on the hanyou's face.

'Hey,' he said softly.

'Hey,' she replied, gazing into his golden eyes. He released his grip on her, pulling something round her neck, and tying it up underneath her hair, and letting his hands fall back to his sides afterwards. Kagome looked down, letting her hands rest on the tiny bottle he had tied round her neck, which carried her jewel shards inside.

'You forgot these,' he said, smiling still.

'No…I didn't,' she muttered, her smile fading as she turned, going to walk away.

She stopped as she heard Inuyasha's footsteps, knowing he was following her, and felt him stop just inches behind her. 'I didn't forget the - I just - I didn't - I don't want to go back.' Inuyasha gazed at the back of her in confusion, as she would not face him.

'But, why?'

'There isn't a place for me in your world…not anymore. Or maybe there never was.'

'Don't be stupid,' argued Inuyasha grabbing her round the waist and turning her to face him. 'You did, and you still do have a place, it's with me.' Kagome

pushed his hands away, stepping away from him slightly.

'Don't give me that! You always do this, you say what I want to hear; you give me hope that you actually want me, all just to let me watch you go back to her! Kikyo is the one you really want at your side!'

Inuyasha's eyes widened as he gazed into her angry eyes.

'Is that what this is about? You still think I want Kikyo with me? Why would I want her when you're with me?'

'I don't know, why don't you tell me?' she argued, turning again. Inuyasha seized her arm, turning her to face him.

'Listen to me.'

'No, let go of me!' Kagome tried to pull her wrist out of his grip, but she wasn't strong enough; she raised her other hand, and slapped his face, making him let go. He looked at her, out of breath, a red mark over his face where she'd hit him. She gazed angrily back, a little sorry for hitting him that hard, but she knew that whatever he had to say would only make things worse. She took off the necklace with the shards sharply, and threw it back at him; he caught it, and held it loosely in his hand, still staring at her. 'I'm not going back!' She stood facing him, waiting for him to reply. He just stepped towards her, stopping before her and spoke quietly.

'You don't have to,' he looked sadly at his feet as he said this, and her eyes widened. 'And you don't have to see me again, but I want you to hear what I have to say.' Kagome waiting, slightly afraid of what he was about to say, thinking she knew exactly what it was, but did she…? 'You think I want Kikyo, instead of you. But I…I chose you. When you were being sacrificed by those villagers, you kept screaming my name. I, Sango, all of us including Kikyo, we were in battle. They were all charging at Kikyo, and I heard your voice; I didn't help her…I chose you.'

Kagome's eyes widened even more, as Inuyasha stepped closer to her.

'Why didn't you tell me?' she asked; he shook his head.

'It didn't matter, all that mattered was that I chose, and that I know I made the right choice, because…even if Kikyo had died, I wouldn't have regretted that I saved you, because, the fact is…I'd miss you more.' Kagome smiled, tears pouring from her eyes, and she leapt at him, throwing her arms round his neck; Inuyasha nuzzled his face into her hair, breathing in her scent deeply. Kagome pulled back slightly, her hand tracing down his arm slipping her delicate fingers into his hand, and retrieving the necklace with the shards, watching him smile as she tied it back round her neck.

'I guess I'd better keep these then,' she said quietly. Inuyasha moved closer to her his face so close to hers she could feel his hot breath on her face.

'I guess you should,' he replied softly, his nose stroking against hers slightly.

Kagome's heart leapt into her throat, she felt her legs about to fail her, and only hoped they would keep her up. Is he going to kiss me? She thought. Suddenly, at this thought her nervousness grew too much, and she needed to break the silence.

'How long is this going to last, travelling back and forth to each other's worlds?' she asked softly. Inuyasha nuzzled his face closer to hers, his eyes closed.

'As long as I need you,' he replied in a husky voice, 'How does eternity sound to you?' Kagome smiled, nuzzling him back gently.

'Longer…' she replied, also closing her eyes. 'Let's face it, your hopeless without me, right?' She felt him nod, sensing the smile on his lips. Then eventually she pulled away, walking from him.

'Where are you going?' he called after her in bewilderment; she turned for a moment to reply.

'I'm gonna tell my mom I'm coming back with you. Will you wait for me?' He nodded, and she turned again, going into the house.

'Ill wait for you, he whispered, 'I'll always be waiting for you…'

~Owari~

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A/N: I know, what a load of fluffy waffy crap for the ending, but I liked it. And I know what you're thinking, "No admitting their love for each other?!" Well that's what the next in the series is for, so read them please. The IYxKag relationship comes together in the next one. So please don't yell at me, the love comes in the next story, I'll beg one more time please read that one! And comments for the poor obsessive person please ^_^

Sayonara!

Shigure-san

x chuu x